The Minister of Youth and Sports announced SudaneseAhmed Adam, Sudan will host the East African Zone Table Tennis Championship in May 2026.
This hosting comes with a record participation of 14 countries, making Sudan the focus of attention for sports fans and a platform for major continental and international qualifiers.
Sudan opens its doors to the world
Professor Ahmed Adam, during his chairmanship of the Supreme Organizing Committee, stressed that this tournament goes beyond being just a sporting event, but is a “people’s diplomacy” aimed at sending a clear message to the world about the country’s stability and high organizational capabilities.
The minister explained that hosting 14 African countries will have a positive impact on the tourism and economic sectors, and will contribute to strengthening cultural and political ties with neighboring countries.
A historic leap in the world rankings
In conjunction with preparations for the tournament, the Sudanese Table Tennis Federation revealed an unprecedented sporting achievement, as the Sudanese national team jumped to 70th place in the world rankings.
This qualitative development positions Sudan as a rising power in the game, especially since this tournament is the “only qualifier” and mandatory path to participate in the upcoming African Championship and World Cup, which raises the bar for expectations and competition on Sudanese soil.
What is the East African Table Tennis Championship?
The East African Table Tennis Championship is one of the most important regional competitions that brings together players from countries in the east of the continent, such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia, with the aim of promoting the level of the game and developing young talents.
The tournament is organized under the supervision of national table tennis federations and applies the rules of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), and includes singles, doubles and national team competitions.
. The tournament provides an important platform for players to gain experience and raise their international ranking, in addition to providing an opportunity to compete in a professional sporting environment that simulates continental and international championships, with a focus on adhering to modern technical and organizational standards.
The tournament is gaining significant importance at the regional level because it provides opportunities to promote sports integration among East African countries and to discover talents who can represent their countries in African and international championships.
Regional competitions also help to broaden the base of the game on the continent and raise the level of competition among players, which contributes to the development of table tennis in Africa.
In addition, the tournament plays a role in promoting cooperation between sports federations, spreading sports culture, and raising awareness of the importance of regular training and technical discipline, thus ensuring the continued development of the game locally and regionally.
